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97-518: Using the front-wheel drive Chrysler S platform, the minivans were produced in both passenger and cargo configurations. Initially offered in a single wheelbase, a longer-wheelbase Grand Caravan/Grand Voyager was introduced for 1987. For 1988, the Chrysler Voyager was introduced for export sale (mainly to Europe), intended as a competitor for the Renault Espace . For the final year of the generation,

194-512: A "garageable van", more powerful, safer-handling vans capable as a practical second car. In 1964, when Chrysler adopted three platforms for all products called the C , B and A , Chrysler also introduced the Dodge A100 cab-over van in response to the first generation Ford Econoline , Chevrolet Van and Chevy Corvair Greenbrier . The Dodge van project did not progress past a clay model design; Chrysler chairman Lynn Townsend argued that if

291-657: A 119-inch wheelbase as part of a 1987 update, launching the Grand Caravan/Grand Voyager. Starting in 1988, the Chrysler Voyager was exported to markets outside of the United States and Canada. For 1990, Chrysler began production of the Chrysler Town & Country, among the first luxury vehicles produced as a minivan. Designed as an alternative to full-size station wagons, the standard-length Dodge Caravan/Plymouth Voyager (two inches shorter and two inches wider than

388-469: A Federal bailout of Chrysler, citing past bailouts of the railroad industry and aerospace company Lockheed as precedent. He argued that thousands of American jobs would be saved and the company had been consciously attempting to build modern, economical cars such as the Omni, but fate had dealt them a bad hand. Iacocca also stated that excessive government regulations were costing needless money. Congress approved

485-490: A K-car station wagon), presented nearly double the cargo space of a K-car station wagon with a 7-foot long cargo floor. Similar to the K-car station wagons, the minivans use a liftgate rear door (supported by gas struts), unlocked by key. Several seating configurations were offered, depending on trim level. The standard configuration of five-passenger seating in two rows was included with seven or eight-passenger seating in three rows;

582-473: A V6 Espace, giving him a performance advantage over the other vehicles. Building upon its success, the Espace was revamped in 1988, with most of the remaining Talbot/Simca content being replaced by equivalent Renault parts. The chassis and mechanical components of the car remained largely unchanged. The most obvious cosmetic exterior difference, between the very first Espaces and the revamped post 1988 models, were

679-429: A backlog of unsold inventory which cost money to store and had to resort to the money-losing tactic of rebates to get rid of these excess cars. Compounding these difficulties were new Federal emissions and safety regulations during the 1970s which added more to the production costs of each car. Townsend retired in 1975 and left the reins to John J. Riccardo , who presided over a slowly-sinking company. The following year,

776-860: A chrome waterfall grille (styled similar to the Chrysler New Yorker ), clear-lens turn front turn signals, body-color mirrors, a crystal Pentastar hood ornament (shared with the New Yorker/Fifth Avenue), lower body trim (a monochromatic, long-wheelbase version of the Dodge Caravan ES body trim), and 15" alloy wheels (later used with the Plymouth Voyager LX and other Plymouth models). The interior featured model-specific leather seating, leather interior trim panels, all available power-operated equipment, front and rear air conditioning, and an Infinity II sound system . Depending on production date,

873-573: A full set of windows. Coinciding with the 1987 introduction of the Grand Caravan, cargo van production expanded to both wheelbases. On the Caravan C/V, in addition to the liftgate rear door, Chrysler offered 50/50 split rear doors (similar to the Chevrolet Astro and traditional cargo vans). Produced as an option, the 50/50 doors were constructed of fiberglass; custom-installed by an outside vendor,

970-578: A galvanised independent steel chassis. The Espace III received a facelift in September 2000. In November 1999, a smaller, 1.9-litre turbodiesel had been added to the lineup. The Espace III shared much of its running gear with the Laguna of the same era. Although Renault-badged, the Espace III continued to be built by Matra . A number of third generation Espaces were used as bases for NGV and taxi conversions for

1067-477: A hands free parking system. The Espace V is only available in markets with LHD , with RHD vehicles not built nor sold, as with the Renault Talisman . In June 2017, the 1.6-liter petrol engine was replaced by the larger 1.8 TCe. In September 2018, both of the 1.6-liter R-type diesel engines were replaced by larger, more powerful 2.0-liter engines from Nissan's MR engine family . An updated Renault Espace

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1164-461: A map of Paris . The engine is a 1.6 litre diesel unit. The Initiale Paris is the final installment of Laurens van den Acker 's "cycle of life" six-concept series, with each one representing, according to Renault, a lifetime moment: "love" ( Renault DeZir ), "explore" ( Renault Captur ), "family" ( Renault R-Space ), "work" ( Renault Frendzy ), "play" ( Renaults Twin'Z and Twin'Run ) and "wisdom" (Renault Initiale Paris). Unveiled on 28 March 2023,

1261-572: A market for such a vehicle existed, Ford and GM would have already done it. In 1973, Ford developed the Ford Carousel as a running prototype; derived from the Ford Club Wagon (itself in development), the Carousel adopted a lower "garageable" roofline and "automotive-style" interior and exterior features. While supported by multiple Ford executives, the Carousel fell victim to the 1973 oil crisis , as

1358-492: A million in sales between the two original nameplates before being rebadged and upgraded, not counting the numerous stretched, sporty, or minivan derivatives. Ford did not replace its family-sized Fairmont/Granada/LTD with a front-wheel drive design until the 1986 Ford Taurus , while cars like the Chevrolet Cavalier and Ford Tempo would be marketed as upscale compacts rather than family sedans. Initial advertisements for

1455-478: A minor exterior update, Dodge and Plymouth each gained an additional trim level for the top of the model range, the Dodge Caravan ES and Plymouth Voyager LX, available only in standard-wheelbase configuration. The Chrysler Town & Country was only offered in a single unnamed trim level. Chrysler produced two cargo van variants of the S platform, both based upon the Dodge Caravan. From 1984 to 1988, Dodge marketed

1552-547: A new 150 hp (110 kW) 3.3 L V6 was added to the option list in model year 1990. The V6 engines became popular as sales of the 2.5 turbo dwindled, and it was dropped at the end of the year. Neither the 3.3 L V6 engine nor the turbocharged four were available on the European Chrysler Voyager. The Chrysler Town & Country was only available with one engine option, the Mitsubishi 3.0 L V6, which

1649-555: A show car called the Espace F1, which was created by Matra to celebrate both the tenth anniversary of the Espace and Renault's involvement in Formula One racing. Though it resembled an Espace with substantial bodywork changes, the vehicle had more in common with a Formula One car. The vehicle used a lightweight carbon fibre F1 style chassis in combination with a carbon fibre reinforced Espace J63 series body (as opposed to fibreglass on

1746-484: A signature styling feature of 1980s Chrysler minivans, top-trim Caravans and Voyagers were both offered with simulated woodgrain as an option. In following with many other Chrysler vehicles, for 1986, Chrysler minivans shifted from 4-lug to 5-lug wheels. To reduce high-speed wind noise, Chrysler added a bumper-mounted air dam. The 1987 model year saw a mid-cycle update to the S-platform minivans. Largely centered around

1843-612: A sufficient amount of base models, Chrysler was producing a larger number of SE and Custom models. When consumers arrived at Plymouth (and Dodge) dealers, they were shocked to find that the Reliant they were planning on purchasing would end up costing hundreds or thousands of dollars more. As a result of this, Chrysler corrected this and began building more base models and sales of the Reliant and Aries skyrocketed. The Reliant and Aries were available in standard "base", mid-level Custom , and high-end SE (later renamed LE ) trim levels. Unlike

1940-421: Is a series of automobiles manufactured by Renault since 1984. For its first five generations, the Espace was a multi-purpose vehicle/MPV ( M-segment ), but it has been redesigned as a mid-size crossover SUV for its sixth generation. The first three generations of the Espace were amongst the first contemporary minivans or MPVs, and were manufactured by Matra for Renault. The fourth generation, also an MPV,

2037-537: Is known as "gear hunt" or "shift busyness", resulting in premature wear of the internal clutches. It also required an uncommon type of automatic transmission fluid and is not clearly labeled as such, leading many owners to use the more common Dexron II rather than the specified "Mopar ATF+3", resulting in transmission damage and eventual failure. The Ultradrive received numerous design changes in subsequent model years to improve reliability, and many early model transmissions would eventually be retrofitted or replaced with

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2134-545: The 2.2 L engine later offered in the K-cars was never offered in the Caravan, and the 2-bbl version would remain the base power plant until mid-1987. Alongside the 2.2 L , an optional Mitsubishi 2.6 L engine was available, producing 104 hp (78 kW). In mid-1987, the base 2.2 L inline-four engine was replaced with a fuel-injected 2.5 L inline-four, which produced 100 hp (75 kW), while

2231-674: The Chrysler Voyager nameplate, competing against the Renault Espace and Volkswagen Transporter/Caravelle (sold as the Vanagon in North America). While the Voyager name was derived from the Plymouth division, the Chrysler Voyager was a rebranded version of the Dodge Caravan, fitted with the front fascia of the Caravan C/V cargo van. To accommodate the vehicle for European sale, the Chrysler Voyager

2328-636: The Grancar Futura , it was powered by four-cylinder engines (AP1800/AP2000) from Ford/Volkswagen's local lineup, while using the dashboard from the Ford Del Rey and the Escort 's fuel tank. With Renault upset about intellectual property infringement and market liberalization undercutting the car's raison d'être , the Futura came to an end in the end of 1991, after 159 cars had been built. A heavily revised Espace

2425-600: The Kuala Lumpur International Airport and the Kuala Lumpur Sentral transportation hub in Malaysia , rebranded as Enviro 2000s. The third generation Espace was the last Espace to be built by Matra (the short lived Avantime was subsequently produced on the same production line). During 2001, Matra and MG Rover discussed a possible deal to build reskinned Espaces, as well as market them. However,

2522-565: The Matra Museum in France. The third generation Espace arrived in December 1996, with the long wheelbase Grand Espace coming to market in the beginning of 1998. The most notable feature of the Espace III was the radically futuristic interior (including an elongated and centrally mounted dashboard, digital speedometer and radio/CD display). Once again, the Espace III featured a plastic ( GRP ) body over

2619-569: The Mitsubishi G54B I4 was replaced with a new fuel-injected 3.0 L Mitsubishi V6 producing 136 hp (101 kW) in March of that year. Shortly thereafter, in model year 1989, a more powerful engine became optional: a turbocharged version of the 2.5 L I4 producing 150 hp (112 kW). Revisions to the Mitsubishi V6 increased its output to 142 hp (106 kW), and

2716-443: The coupe and sedan , the station wagon was not available in base trim. "SE" Reliant/Aries wagons came standard with exterior woodtone siding, although it could be deleted. All models except base could be ordered with front bucket seats rather than the standard bench. By 1987, though, bucket seats became standard and bench seats were optional without charge. After 1987, the Reliant and Aries underwent only minor changes throughout

2813-434: The $ 1.5 billion in federal loan guarantees given to Chrysler. From its 1979 approval to its 1984 launch, the proposed T-115 design would undergo several major changes. Originally intended to use four sedan-style doors (similar to a station wagon), Chrysler changed to two sliding doors for the rear, claiming better parking-lot access. The configuration was ultimately changed to a single sliding door, as Chrysler wanted to market

2910-513: The 1984 model year, Chrysler marketed the first-generation minivans as the Dodge Caravan and Plymouth Voyager, along with the Mini Ram Van cargo van. While the Dodge Caravan nameplate was used for the first time, Plymouth had used the Voyager nameplate since 1974 on its version of the Dodge Sportsman full-size passenger van. Initially released in a single 112-inch wheelbase, Chrysler introduced

3007-486: The 1990 Chrysler Town & Country was produced with one of two V6 engines. It was originally fitted with the 142 hp 3.0L Mitsubishi V6 used across Chrysler's model line. This was later upgraded to Chrysler's own 150 hp 3.3L V6 as a running change during production. Although all S-platform Town & Country minivans have 1990 VINs, the EPA classifies examples with the 3.0L V6 as 1989 vehicles. Both engines were paired with

Chrysler minivans (S) - Misplaced Pages Continue

3104-754: The 4-speed Ultradrive automatic transmission. In total, 5,404 examples of the Chrysler Town & Country were produced, making this variant the rarest of all Chrysler minivans. Original commercials for the 1984 Voyager featured magician Doug Henning as a spokesperson to promote the Voyager "Magic Wagon's" versatility, cargo space, low step-in height, passenger volume, and maneuverability. Later commercials in 1989 featured rock singer Tina Turner . Canadian commercials in 1990 featured pop singer Celine Dion . Rebadged models, mostly from Japanese or Korean manufacturers – Rebadged Chrysler/Plymouth models for external markets Renault Espace The Renault Espace ( French pronunciation: [ʁəno ɛspaːs] )

3201-523: The Aries were done in red, white, and blue and emphasized American industry's desire to answer the challenge of Japanese products and also promoted the low $ 5,880 base price. Since Chrysler was so financially strapped, early promotional shots featured the same car, but with Dodge and Plymouth badges and trim swapped. In 1981, sales of the Reliant and Aries got off to a slow, but early start and can be attributed to Chrysler's inadequate preparation. Instead of producing

3298-535: The Chrysler PT Cruiser). The minivans also became the first automobiles ever with modern cup holders. At their 1984 launch, as with the K-Cars, the Dodge Caravan and Plymouth Voyager were externally distinguished largely by their grilles. Both vehicles were fitted with four headlights, with the Caravan fitted with an eggcrate grille while the Voyager was fitted with a horizontally-oriented grille. In what would become

3395-472: The Chrysler Voyager shared its powertrain with its North American counterpart; many examples were produced with manual transmissions. After being discontinued in the 1988 model year, the Chrysler Town & Country nameplate was revived as Chrysler released a minivan for its namesake division. Introduced in the spring of the 1989 as an early 1990 model, the Town & Country was released as the highest-trim version of

3492-473: The Dodge Caravan and Plymouth Voyager as standard equipment, with a number of trim features of its own. All examples were produced with woodgrain trim (a feature associated with the nameplate). Initially, Bright White Clearcoat was the sole color available, with Black Clearcoat added as an option in June 1989 (as 1990 Caravans/Voyagers entered production). To externally distinguish the Town & Country, Chrysler added

3589-632: The Espace Biturbo Quadra was also proposed by Matra in 1990, before the second generation Espace entered production. It was to use the same engine that was later installed in the Safrane Biturbo , which produced around 270 PS (199 kW). However, it never entered production due to the concern of its stability, and only a single prototype remains today. The estimated performance figures of it were: 0 to 100 km/h around 7.5 seconds, top speed above 230 km/h. In 1995, Renault displayed

3686-616: The Espace IV before 2009, which would account for 20% of the European market for an MPV. The fourth generation Espace came third from the bottom in the Top Gear Satisfaction Survey 2005. On 22 June 2012, Renault announced a restyling of the Espace (Phase IV), the second important after 2006, incorporating the "family feeling" design concept of Laurens van den Acker . Also, it introduced new 2.0 dCi (M9R) engines, in order to meet

3783-546: The Espace was kept fairly intact both times, but the dummies in the older Espace and the Discovery were smashed between the seats and the dashboard, leaving no survival possibilities. The Renault Espace IV has received decent to good reviews from motoring journalists and is often cited as one of the best vehicles in the large MPV class. The fifth-generation Espace was unveiled at the 2014 Paris Motor Show in October 2014. It abandons

3880-558: The French company PSA Peugeot Citroën , which phased out Simca within a decade because of falling sales. PSA decided the Espace was too expensive and too risky a design to put into production, preferring to focus on nursing Talbot back to financial health. The design was returned to Matra, who called it the Matra P23 and took the idea to Renault. Renault adopted the Matra concept as project J11, which

3977-585: The French regulations regarding the limitations on CO 2 emissions. The car continued in production until the launch of a new generation. The Espace IV passed the Euro NCAP car safety tests with following ratings: The 2003 Espace featured in British motoring television show Fifth Gear twice, once when it was crashed into a J63 Espace, and again when it was crashed into a 1990s Land Rover Discovery, both at 64 km/h (40 mph). The passenger compartment in

Chrysler minivans (S) - Misplaced Pages Continue

4074-539: The K-cars was considered inadequate; the 3.7L Slant Six was unsuited for transverse mounting. The Mitsubishi-sourced 2.6L I4 was adopted as an interim engine until 1987 when Chrysler dropped it in favor of a Mitsubishi-sourced 3.0L V6. Eventually the Chrysler V6 engine was introduced for the model line in 1989, choosing not to use the 238.2 cu in (3.9 L) Chrysler LA 239 V6 engine . Launched in November 1983 for

4171-577: The K-platform had been designed during 1978, the failing company could not afford by this point to put them into production. Thus, Iacocca and Riccardo decided to repeat the original 1977 request for government assistance, but since the Carter Administration would not offer any help until the existing management was removed, Riccardo stepped down as chairman and gave Iacocca the job. During a series of Congressional hearings, Lee Iacocca made his case for

4268-467: The May 1987 introduction of the Grand Caravan and Grand Voyager, the update brought a new front fascia and taillights. To better differentiate the Caravan from the Voyager, the model lines received different grilles; all models except the Mini Ram Van (cargo van) were shifted to flush-lens composite headlamps. Fourteen inches longer in length than a standard-wheelbase Chrysler minivan, the Grand Caravan/Grand Voyager

4365-441: The Mini Ram Van and Caravan C/V's long wheelbase models with a 3.0 L V6. V6 engines were only offered with the fully hydraulically operated TorqueFlite until the computer controlled Ultradrive 4-speed automatic became available in 1989. The Ultradrive offered much better fuel economy and responsiveness, particularly when paired with the inline-4 engine. However, it suffered from reliability problems, usually stemming from what

4462-401: The Mini Ram Van. Distinguished by a "Ram" nameplate under the side-view mirror, the Mini Ram Van was renamed the Caravan C/V (Cargo Van) for 1989. In contrast to passenger vans, the Caravan C/V was fitted with model-specific headlight clusters, using dual sealed-beam headlamps (shared with the export Chrysler Voyager). Several window configurations were available, ranging from either no windows to

4559-528: The Murena to make room for the Espace. It was sold in the United Kingdom from August 1985. In October 1984 the turbodiesel versions Turbo D and Turbo DX arrived. In 1984, American Motors Corporation (AMC) announced it would begin to market the front wheel drive Espace in the United States. The minivan was exhibited to consumers at the 1985 Chicago Auto Show , but AMC's negotiations with Matra continued over

4656-875: The Reliant and Aries were marketed as the "Reliant K" and "Aries K". The Aries was sold as the Dart K in Mexico, and as the Michigan in Japan. The Reliant replaced the Plymouth Volaré / Road Runner , while the Aries replaced the Dodge Aspen . The Reliant and Aries were selected together as Motor Trend magazine's Car of the Year for 1981. Initial sales were brisk, with both Reliant and Aries each selling over 150,000 units in 1981, with cumulative sales of million Aries and 1.1 million Reliant units over

4753-414: The S platform is not directly related to the K platform; though sharing powertrains to lower development and production costs, the S platform has a distinct body structure, allowing for a higher hoodline and seat height. The S platform is produced in two wheelbases: 112.1 inches for standard-length minivans; 119.1 inches for "Grand"-length minivans. Adapting the layout of the K platform for a larger vehicle,

4850-535: The S-platform vans were fitted with MacPherson strut front suspension and a beam rear axle with leaf springs . All S-platform minvans are fitted with front disc and rear drum brakes. For the first three years of production, two engines were offered – both inline-4 engines with two-barrel carburetors . The base 2.2 L was borrowed from the Chrysler K-cars , and produced 96 hp (72 kW) horsepower. The higher performance fuel-injected version of

4947-582: The United States (Chrysler marketed the car as being able to seat "six Americans"), similar to larger rear-wheel drive cars such as the Dodge Dart and other front-wheel drive cars such as the Chevrolet Celebrity . The Reliant was powered by a then-new 2.2 L I4 SOHC engine, with a Mitsubishi "Silent Shaft" 2.6 L as an option (this engine also featured hemispherical combustion chambers, and all 1981 models equipped with it featured "HEMI" badges on

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5044-496: The back two seats were two-passenger and three-passenger bench seats (in the style of a larger van, these latched to the floor). The more popular two-passenger configuration was offered in several configurations, with low-back seats (as the minivan was technically a light truck), or high back seats with headrests; depending on trim level, seats could have vinyl, "deluxe" cloth or vinyl, or "luxury" cloth/vinyl upholstery. Two styles of rear seats were offered. The three-passenger rear bench

5141-442: The bailout after Chrysler detailed the plans for their new FWD platform and the first handful of K-cars trickled off the assembly line at Detroit's Jefferson Avenue plant in late 1980. The Reliant and Aries were downsized replacements for the six-passenger Volare and Aspen, which in turn were modernized version of the original Valiant and Dart compact cars of the 1960s. Based on experience gained with subcompact Omni/Horizon of 1978,

5238-471: The body in 1981; while requiring a major redesign of components and tooling, the design change allowed for a reduction of wind noise and drag. To further reduce costs, a number of visible interior components were shared with the Dodge Aries/Plymouth Reliant , including the instrument panel, interior controls, radio, and various trim items. Drivetrain choices proved problematic as the 2.2L I4 of

5335-476: The changed headlights: the forward-slanting lights with orange indicator casing of the original Espace were replaced with backward-slanting lights, with a clear indicator casing. Along with the changes in design, a four-wheel-drive version called Quadra was also introduced. Brazilian Ford Concessionaire Grancar, in cooperation with Toni Bianco, developed a faithful copy of the original Espace in Brazil in 1990. Called

5432-488: The compact Dodge Aspen /Plymouth Volare debuted as replacements for the dated Dodge Dart/Plymouth Valiant, but were rushed into production and ended up with a major string of quality control problems that led to them being one of the most recalled cars in US history. In 1977, Riccardo petitioned newly elected US president Jimmy Carter for a Federal bailout, but Carter would not consider the idea as long as Chrysler's present management

5529-458: The company focused development resources on redesigning its sedan lines. At the end of 1977, development of Chrysler minivans restarted with four main goals; 1982 was planned for a potential model year launch. Although both the front-wheel drive K-Cars and L-body ( Omni/Horizon ) were being considered as donor platforms, Chrysler also allowed consideration of rear-wheel drive. Ultimately, the L-body

5626-444: The company's 2,849-cc PRV V6 with 153 PS (113 kW). Four-wheel-drive ("Quadra") was only available with the 2.2-litre petrol four; an automatic transmission was initially not offered. The second generation saw mostly minor changes during its lifespan. A four-speed automatic option was added to the V6. In 1995 a version of the turbodiesel with a variable vane turbocharger was added to

5723-688: The conventional large MPV design of previous generations, instead having crossover SUV styling. The car is based on the Renault–Nissan Common Module Family architecture developed by both Renault and Nissan . The Renault Espace has radar adaptive cruise control as an option, and active emergency braking . It is offered with the latest version of Renault's R Link 2 information system (voice control, navigation, Bluetooth and radio), engine stop start, emergency brake assist, lane departure warning and road sign recognition with speed limit alerts, 360 degree sensors, reversing camera and

5820-449: The deal failed to happen. Production ended in September 2002, with the final production number being 357,120. The fourth generation Espace arrived in November 2002, being the first entirely Renault developed and produced model. This model is 90% recyclable, and contains numerous weight reducing materials, thus cutting fuel consumption. The aluminium doors and bonnet are 20 kg (44 lb) lighter than steel equivalents. Its styling

5917-527: The design for Simca , the then French subsidiary of Chrysler, with the intent of marketing the vehicle as a Talbot . It would replace the Matra Rancho leisure activity vehicle on the Matra production lines. Early prototypes used Simca parts, and hence featured a grille reminiscent of the Simca 1307 (Chrysler Alpine). In 1978, six years before the Espace went into production, Chrysler UK and Simca were sold to

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6014-515: The doors were installed between the factory and shipment to a dealer. As with the larger Dodge Ram Van , the Mini Ram Van and Caravan C/V also served as a basis for conversion vans , sold through Chrysler dealers as well as through converters themselves. Starting for the 1988 model year, Chrysler began exports of minivans to Europe. As neither the Plymouth nor the Dodge brands were marketed outside of North America by Chrysler, minivans were exported under

6111-482: The entire area behind the front seats. The design featured a body of fibreglass , mounted on a warm-galvanised steel monocoque spaceframe , using the same technique and assembly line at the factory as the Talbot Matra Murena . The galvanization process increased torsional rigidity by 60 per cent and bending resistance by 20 per cent, at a cost of a 30 kg (66 lb) weight gain. Weight distribution

6208-422: The existing ones continued to sell. Sales of the company's larger cars started dropping after the 1973 OPEC Embargo and an increased amount of company volume consisted of lower profit compact models. Chrysler also had a policy of producing cars regardless of whether a customer ordered them, which was in contrast to AMC, Ford, and GM who only produced vehicles for which they received orders. Soon, they were left with

6305-515: The front fenders). The Reliant was available as a 2-door coupe , 4-door sedan , or as a 4-door station wagon , in three different trim lines: base, Custom and SE ("Special Edition"). Station wagons came only in Custom or SE trim. As rebadged variants , the Reliant and Aries were manufactured in Newark, Delaware , Detroit, Michigan , and Toluca, Mexico — in a single generation. After their introduction,

6402-467: The introduction of the second generation. To make the engine installation as short as possible, the radiator was placed to the left in the engine compartment, with the engine reaching the grille. The compact installation necessitated an extended front end for turbodiesel models as this engine was longer; these have a protruding grille and a correspondingly larger front bumper. Renault improved on Matra's original design by insisting on an entirely flat floor in

6499-494: The latter. The sixth generation debuted in 2023 as a 7-seater SUV based on the Austral . The name " espace " means "space" in French. In February 2012, the Espace was retired in the United Kingdom, as part of a cost-cutting plan. The Espace concept was originally conceived in the 1970s by the British designer Fergus Pollock , who was working for Chrysler UK , at its design centre at Whitley in Coventry . Matra , spearheaded by Greek designer Antonis Volanis , developed

6596-422: The lineup; thanks to this, power increased from 88 to 92 PS (65 to 68 kW). Production ceased in October 1996, after 316,419 examples had been built. This generation Espace was also "assembled" in China, where Sanjiang Renault Automobile received nearly complete Espaces and sold them as locally assembled product thanks to loopholes in the Chinese CKD regulations. A high performance prototype (P46) called

6693-497: The luxury-oriented Chrysler Town & Country was introduced. Chrysler manufactured the S-platform minivans in the United States and Canada in its Saint Louis Assembly ( Fenton, Missouri ) and Windsor Assembly ( Windsor, Ontario ) facilities. The development of what ultimately became the Chrysler minivans began in the early 1970s as concurrent projects of Ford Motor Company and the truck division of Dodge. As an alternative to Volkswagen Microbus , both companies sought to create

6790-407: The nine-year run. Chrysler was facing a grave financial crisis due to poor business decisions, lack of investment in new products during previous years, and external factors outside of their control as the 1970s ended. Lynn A. Townsend , chairman from 1967 to 1975, had pursued a hands-off policy of running the company, refusing to spend more than the minimum on new drivetrains or platforms as long as

6887-436: The position of company president. By this point, the smallest of the Big Three American automakers was close to collapse, struggling from the unexpected poor sales of the Omni, the fallout from the Aspen recalls, and the decision to discontinue full-sized Dodges and Plymouths in 1978, leaving it without a full-sized car in a year of strong sales for them. Since 1976, quality control on Chrysler vehicles had become worse. Although

6984-456: The rear wheels via a six speed semi automatic gearbox, also used in the Williams FW15C. The engine and transmission allowed the Espace F1 to accelerate from 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph) in 2.8 seconds, 0–200 km/h (0–124 mph) in 6.9 seconds and carry on accelerating to a top speed of 312 km/h (194 mph). With the use of carbon ceramic brakes, the Espace F1's deceleration

7081-543: The roomier K-cars set out to build a family sized car with a front-wheel drive design powered by a four-cylinder engine. They were offered as two and four door notchback sedans and wagons and retained six-passenger seating on two bench seats. While the Chevrolet Citation introduced front-wheel drive in the 1980 model year to replace the Nova, its unusual styling and problems with recalls hampered its success. They achieved nearly

7178-611: The sixth-generation Espace is heavily based on the Austral , sharing most of the body panels including the front end and the interior. Plymouth Reliant The Plymouth Reliant and Dodge Aries are mid size cars introduced for model year 1981 as the first " K-cars " manufactured and marketed by the Chrysler Corporation . The Reliant and Aries were the smallest cars to have the traditional 6 passenger 2 bench seat with column shifter seating arrangement favored by customers in

7275-451: The standard model). Powering the Espace F1 was an 800 PS (588 kW; 789 hp) (upgraded from its original rating of 700 PS (515 kW; 690 hp)) 3.5 litre, forty valve Renault RS5 V10 engine , as used in the 1993 Williams-Renault FW15C . As with an F1 car, the V10 engine was mid engined (as opposed to the conventional front-engined layout ) and the power was transmitted to

7372-467: The three Chrysler minivans, sold exclusively in the long-wheelbase body length. Originally slated for a 1989 release, the Town & Country was the first of the three minivans produced as a 1990 model. Designed as a competitor to luxury-themed minivans such as the Ford Aerostar Eddie Bauer and the (then-upcoming) Oldsmobile Silhouette , the Town & Country included nearly every feature of

7469-460: The truck engineering division of Dodge within its car counterpart of Chrysler. By 1979, Chrysler chose front-wheel drive for the minivan project, codenamed "T-115". Though the van would share its transverse engine and transmission with the K-cars, it would be based on a separate body structure. Approved by Lee Iacocca at the end of 1979, the T-115 project would cost $ 500 million to produce, funded as part of

7566-419: The updated versions by dealers, under warranty. These efforts were mostly successful, and most first-generation Caravans eventually got an updated transmission. The S-platform Dodge Caravan and Plymouth Voyager were both offered in three trim levels, an unnamed base trim level, mid-range SE , and top-range LE ; LE-trim minivans were marketed with the option of simulated woodgrain paneling. In 1989, as part of

7663-447: The van to commercial buyers. While engineers wanted to make a left-side sliding door an option, its deletion was done to reduce production costs. During development, the configuration of the rear door was also contentious; initially favoring a tailgate, designers shifted to a liftgate (a design also used by the K-Car wagons). On the exterior, the side windows were redesigned to become flush with

7760-409: The vehicle's import pricing. Plans for the Espace to be launched in the United States ended with the purchase of AMC by Chrysler. In 2004, BBC 's motoring show Top Gear set up a race between two Espaces, a Toyota Previa , a Toyota MasterAce , a Mitsubishi Space Wagon , and a Nissan Serena . The Espaces came first and second - although as Jeremy Clarkson pointed out, Richard Hammond was driving

7857-490: The vehicles maintained a high degree of visible parts commonality with other Chrysler vehicles, sharing wheel covers, door handles, instrument panels, and other visible trim pieces with the Aries/Reliant and other Chrysler vehicles. As the design of the dashboard precluded a conventional glove box, Chrysler added a large storage drawer underneath the passenger seat (a feature retained in later generations of Chrysler minivans and

7954-455: Was adjustable for passenger legroom or cargo space; the seatback also folded down when not in use. In 1985, a five-passenger version was introduced with a fold-flat rear seat; called "Convert-a-bed", the option allowed the rear seat to fold backwards into a bed. The Convert-a-bed was also available paired with the front bench seat. To lower production and development costs of the Chrysler minivans,

8051-575: Was commercialized from Summer 2020. This update comprises a new interior, additions to assisted driving options, an updated EasyLink infotainment system and a new dashboard. The petrol-engined models were taken out of production in October 2020, leaving only two-liter diesels. The lower powered diesel was discontinued in January 2022 and currently the Espace is only offered with the Blue dCi 190 EDC engine with 189 PS (139 kW). Vehicle production of this model

8148-419: Was fitted with amber turn signal lenses (requiring new taillights), turn signal repeaters, and a model-specific license plate surround (adapted for European license plates and embossed with "Chrysler"). Along with its rebranding, the Chrysler Voyager saw internal modifications, largely to comply with European safety and emissions regulations. With the exception of the turbocharged 2.5 L I4 and 3.3 L V6,

8245-559: Was halted in March 2023. The fifth-generation Espace was preceded by the Initiale Paris concept car , which is similar to the production version. The concept was unveiled in September 2013 at the Frankfurt Motor Show . It has crossover SUV styling and various luxury elements, previewing also the new Renault's Initiale Paris luxury sub-marque. The car incorporates an aluminium– poly(methyl methacrylate) roof, which has

8342-560: Was in charge. In January 1978, Chrysler released the Dodge Omni/Plymouth Horizon, a US adaption of the European Simca Horizon and the first domestic-built FWD subcompacts. They came out in a year when larger cars were in demand and dealers struggled to move them from lots, costing the hard-pressed company yet more money. Ford president Lee Iacocca was fired on July 13, 1978, and three months later, Chrysler offered him

8439-426: Was later upgraded to the newly introduced 3.3 L V6 during its production run. Both a three-speed TorqueFlite A413 automatic transmission and a five-speed manual were available with most inline-4 engines, including the turbocharged 2.5 L (this was a rare combination). Manual transmissions were not available on 2.6 L Mitsubishi 4-cylinder models nor V6 models of the passenger Caravan, but were an option on

8536-499: Was launched in January 1991, adopting the Renault family look, to replace the Talbot themed styling of the original. This was essentially a reskin of the original car, with a new dashboard and other interior improvements. The chassis was left unchanged. Matra's facilities still limited production and deliveries were highly allocated during the first few years. New was the option of a V6 engine,

8633-425: Was manufactured by Renault. The Renault Grand Espace is a long wheelbase (LWB) version with increased rear leg room and boot size. The fifth generation is introduced with a crossover SUV -styled while keeping its MPV classification and body style. Renault described the fifth generation Espace as a 'crossover-style MPV' which combines elements of saloon, SUV and MPV, while retaining interior space and practicality of

8730-401: Was no less impressive than its acceleration, and could accelerate from 0–270 km/h (0–168 mph) and brake to a complete halt in under 600 metres (1,969 ft). This version of the Espace was featured in driving simulator game Gran Turismo 2 . Frank Williams was a noted passenger of the Espace F1, chauffeured by Williams driver David Coulthard . The Espace F1 currently resides in

8827-519: Was rather front heavy, with 62.9 per cent of the weight being over the front wheels (original petrol version). The Espace was eventually launched by Renault in July 1984. After a slow start, a mere nine Espaces were sold in the first month, consumers realised the benefits of the MPV concept and the Espace became popular. The introduction of the Espace required the relatively small Matra factory to cease production of

8924-589: Was reflective of a new design direction at Renault, symbolised by the radical Vel Satis and Avantime models, marking a major departure from the previous model, which also saw the range moved upmarket. In 2006, the Espace received a thorough facelift (Phase II) and added new 2.0 litre and 3.0 litre dCi engines. In October 2010, a slight redesign was unveiled at the Paris Motor Show (Phase III), with minor cosmetic changes, LED lights and improved equipment. In 2002, Renault goals were to deliver 450,000 units of

9021-436: Was replaced by a 3-spoke design (though the rest of the dashboard remained unchanged). In addition to the standard trim levels, Chrysler added the top-line Dodge Caravan ES and Plymouth Voyager LX; as an early 1990 model, the Chrysler Town & Country luxury minivan was introduced in early 1989. The first-generation Chrysler minivans are based upon the Chrysler S platform, using unibody construction. Contrary to popular belief,

9118-710: Was ruled out, as it was considered too light-duty for either the size of the vehicle or its planned six-cylinder engine. During 1978, Chrysler began research across the United States, seeking what features customers desired in a potential minivan, finding agreement in its planned goals. Though potential customers found concept sketches "ugly", Chrysler still found a potential market of nearly 1 million vehicles per year, with Chrysler selling 215,000 of them. In 1978, both Lee Iacocca and Hal Sperlich were fired from Ford Motor Company, moving to similar positions within Chrysler Corporation. The same year, Chrysler Corporation merged

9215-495: Was the largest minivan in North America in 1987. The first Chrysler minivans fitted with a V6 engine, the Grand Caravan/Grand Voyager eventually became the two most popular configurations. With both rear seats removed, the "Grand" minivans offered 150 cubic feet of cargo room, 25 extra than a standard wheelbase Chrysler minivan. The front bench seat and Convert-A-Bed, both seldom ordered, did not return for 1987. Interior upholstery

9312-539: Was then given the name "Espace." One restraint was that Renault used longitudinally mounted engines whereas the P23 had been designed with the more efficient transverse layout in mind. The design ended up using the longitudinal layout, which allowed for more flexibility in engine fitment and also made developing a four-wheel-drive version easier. Installing the PRV V6 had been considered from early on but ended up having to wait until

9409-413: Was upgraded on several trims, with base vinyl seats removed (and deluxe vinyl remaining as an option on SE trim); for the first time, leather seating was offered on LE/Grand LE trim. For 1989, the minivans saw a minor update. To improve fit and finish, Chrysler redesigned the front and rear bumpers, with single-piece bumper covers, painted to match the color of the body. The early-1980s K-Car steering wheel

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